A Very Good Life (22 page)

The ceremony naturally concluded with Christmas carols sung by a choir and the lighting of the iconic tree above the statue of Prometheus.

“Now it’s the Christmas season!” Paddy declared. “Forget the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. For me, it doesn’t officially begin until those lights go on!”

“I agree, Paddy” said Mark. “It’s a spectacular display!”

As Dana and Brett, hand in hand, made their way to a nearby exit and walked quickly across the street to the waiting bus on 49th Street—a definite perk to being in the VIP section—Dana noticed that Janice, accompanied by Matthew, was already boarding John Cirone’s bus.

“She’s not invited to the party!” Dana complained.

“Honey,” Brett said, “I can’t very well tell her she’s not welcome and that we want her off the bus. Besides, Matthew seems to like her.”

“That’s even worse than her coming to the party!”

“Matthew can handle himself. Stop worrying.”

“She’s a cunning shark, and she’s too old for him.”

“He’s a surfer, Dana. All surfers know to look out for sharks.”

Dana couldn’t help but laugh. “I still don’t want her in our apartment or near my brother.”

“
You’ll
have to do the dirty work,” Brett responded, knowing Dana would not ask Janice to leave. “In the meantime, you should be thinking about your guests.”

“You’re right,” she said. “We need to concentrate on the party.”

Still holding hands, Brett and Dana boarded the bus. All of their guests seemed to be in fine spirits. Brett and Dana sat in the first seats, Janice and Matthew huddled close together and talking animatedly in the very rear.

T
he guests were still filing into Brett and Dana’s apartment when Nina Bramen and Patrick Denner arrived back-to-back.

“A few handmade ornaments for your tree,” Nina said as she handed Dana a Christmas shopping bag. “I got them last year in Peru. Hand-carved, hand-painted gourds made with pumpkin. Perfect size for a baby tree. Let’s hang them now before you get busy.”

“Um…well, we have to go upstairs to the library,” Dana said as she put her arm around her friend. “Brett thought the ceiling was too high in the living room for a table tree.”

“And what did
you
think?” Nina asked indignantly.

“Dana loved the idea of having two Concolor firs in the apartment,” Brett quickly responded as he and Mark, only a few feet away, removed their overcoats.

“I don’t believe that for a minute,” Nina snapped. “
I
was there and I know how much she loved
that
tree.”

“Nina, it’s fine,” Dana said, her eyes pleading with Brett to say something kind. “Actually, the tree made the library very cozy. You know it’s my favorite room.”

“The fault is all mine, Nina,” Brett said in a conciliatory manner. “I should have rented a car for the trip. I’ll plan better next year. In fact, we’ll all go to Bucks County and make a day of it!”

Nina, infuriated by Brett’s patronizing and insincere remarks. responded with a cold stare.

“I propose a toast!” Mark interjected as he handed glasses of champagne to Nina, Brett, and Dana from the server who was exiting the kitchen. “To our gracious hosts!”

Those standing nearby raised their glasses.

“Thank you,” Dana mouthed silently to Mark.

Mark smiled and gave Dana a thumbs-up as the staff from Lenôtre passed trays of hors d’oeuvres.

• • •

Brett joined Patrick, who was speaking with the Hartlens in the dining room.

“Jack and Patti were just telling me that you know them apart from the firm,” Patrick said to Brett.

“That’s right,” Brett said as he shook hands with Jack. “I ran into Jack and Patti at Cheshire Cheese, and Patti at Saks.” Brett thought the allusion to Saks was bold enough to indicate that he had nothing to hide from Patti. “And as luck would have it, Dana ran into Jack while walking our dog on Park Avenue. Wills slipped the leash, and Jack was his savior. What’s the old lyric? It’s a small world after all?”

Patrick pointed to Janice, who had not left Matthew’s side since arriving at the apartment. “That’s Janice Conlon, by the way. She’s our newest litigator.”

“And that’s Dana’s brother Matthew she’s talking to,” Brett was quick to point out.

Brett thought that things were evolving with clockwork precision. Patti now understood that he and Janice worked together, and she could also see that Janice seemed quite enamored of Matthew. Janice had wasted no time in orchestrating her plan. She and Matthew were thoroughly engrossed in conversation, and her body language was overt. She touched him on the arm every few seconds as she stood close by his side.

Brett motioned to Dana to join the conversation. “Honey, why don’t you introduce Jack and Patti to Matthew?”

Dana paused for a split second. “Of course. And I’m so glad you could make it tonight. Matthew is the family’s budding scientist, as well as an expert surfer, if you can believe that.” Dana relished the opportunity to intrude on her brother’s conversation with Janice.

With Brett and Patrick left standing alone, Patrick moved closer to Brett. “Richard wanted me to thank you for trying to get the Hartlens to agree to his consortium proposal.”

“I hope he’s not upset that I didn’t consult him first. I was having lunch with them and the opportunity presented itself to broach the subject. I thought I could show them the advantages of joining a consortium rather than waiting for a patent to be assigned.”

“You did the right thing, and Richard was very impressed. It showed initiative.” Patrick paused as he looked around. “Say, where is that nice odor of oranges coming from?”

Brett laughed. “Why am I the only person who can’t smell it?”

• • •

“I brought something for you,” Janice said as Dana approached Matthew with the Hartlens. “Let me run and get it. I put it on a table in the corner.”

As Janice retrieved her peace offering, Dana went through the formalities. “Jack and Patti Hartlen, this is my brother Matthew. He goes to the Uni—”

“Here,” Janice interrupted, handing Dana the wrapped bottle of merlot.

“Thank you,” said Dana. “Janice, Jack and Patti are moving to New York very soon.”

“I just moved here myself,” Janice said. “From California.”

“She loves the ocean,” Matthew said, “so I’m going to teach her how to surf.”

“He’s mastered the Banzai Pipeline,” Dana said with yet another forced smile. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll see how they’re doing in the kitchen.”

Dana walked away, trying to maintain her composure. Janice was loving every minute of monopolizing Matthew’s time. Dana wasn’t sure what Janice was up to, but whatever it was, she didn’t like it. She was also fairly certain that Janice had had no interest in the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center. Her attendance had been a way to crash the McGarry annual Christmas party, and Matthew had been a shiny toy she’d discovered under the tree.

• • •

Dana knew she could do nothing about Janice and Matthew while the party was in progress, but she intended to find out what Brett and Johnny had been up to during the week. Brett, playing the gracious host, was now speaking with Johnny and Phoebe in the dining room.

“I’ve got some shocking news!” Johnny told Dana.

“It’s good news, I hope. Don’t keep me in suspense.”

“I’m a free man. Dad was right to be worried about my marriage to Suzanne. It’s off, and I have Brett to thank.”

Dana’s mouth fell open. Had Brett meddled in Johnny’s affairs? She had counseled her own mother to steer clear of the situation, so how had Brett entered the picture?

Brett could tell what Dana was thinking, so he immediately tried to explain.

“Don’t jump to conclusions, honey. All I did was—”

An excited Phoebe couldn’t contain herself. “All he did was learn from documents my father received from his attorney that the Farnsworth family was using Johnny as an officer in Farnsworth Textiles in Philadelphia, in addition to other family companies—and without his knowledge. Can you believe it? They’re apparently hiding offshore assets and were willing to let Johnny be the responsible party by allowing him to be a majority shareholder.”

“I dodged a bullet,” Johnny declared emphatically. “Brett thinks a lot of their business dealings are questionable at best. I’m convinced that Suzanne’s parents urged her to send out the invitations early before I had a chance to learn what they were doing.”

Dana was speechless for several seconds. “And what did Suzanne think of all this?”

“Oh, she thinks it’s all ridiculous. She said that her parents are honest people who would never do such a thing, and if I suspected them of being criminals, then she never wanted to see me again. I don’t think Suzanne herself is dishonest, but her family is certainly opportunistic.”

“All in a day’s work,” Brett said with a Cheshire cat grin.

“Thank you,” Dana said, putting her arm around her husband’s waist.

“Matthew has invited me to visit him in Hawaii since I won’t be taking time off for a honeymoon,” Johnny said. “By the way, Dana—I have a surprise for you. It’s upstairs in the library, and it won’t wait.”

“Let’s take a look,” Phoebe said excitedly. She obviously knew what waited for Dana upstairs.

“Right now?” said Dana. “Maybe later. I’ve got to keep my eye on things down here. Guests are still arriving and I haven’t yet seen the salmon trout tartare. I need to check with the kitchen.”

“It will only take a minute,” Phoebe said. “Brett looks like he has everything under control.”

“Indeed I do,” Brett said proudly. “Go ahead, honey. I’ll ask one of the servers about the tartare.”

Johnny, Phoebe, and Dana climbed the stairs and entered the library. Matthew and Janice were sitting close together on the couch, Matthew’s arm around her shoulder. Their lips were just inches apart.

“Um, sorry to interrupt,” Johnny said, “but I left something on the desk for Dana.”

Johnny picked up a brown box from the House of Cirone and he handed it to Dana, who slowly removed the cover, eyes wide. Lying on top of her slim black wool crepe gown was a black silk Chantilly lace shawl. “That’s why we kept telling you the alterations weren’t ready,” Johnny explained as Dana unfolded the delicate wrap. “The lace was delayed in clearing customs, and we had to rush to have the shawl made by tonight.”

“This looks just like the vintage lace in Chanel’s last collection,” Dana said in awe.

“Well, I don’t know for sure, but it’s from Chantilly, France, and it’s vintage,” Johnny explained. “We’re using white and black lace in our holiday collection next year.”

“I love it,” Dana said as she hugged both Johnny and Phoebe. “It’s more than a shawl. It’s a beautiful heirloom.”

Janice, who was still seated with Matthew on the sofa, observed all the fuss from a distance. “It’s so nice,” she stated blandly, thinking that wearing an old piece of lace was hideous.

“Matthew, would you run down and remind Brett to have the servers prepare plates for the door staff.” Dana asked. “I want to call and thank Uncle John.” Dana wanted to get Matthew and Janice out of the library—and apart—by any means possible.

“Say hi to Dad,” Phoebe volunteered. “I’m heading downstairs, too. I’m so tired of hospital cafeteria food! I’m starving!”

Janice, Matthew, and Phoebe left the library.

Johnny walked leisurely around the room, looking at family pictures that spanned the Cirones and the Martignettis over many years and holiday gatherings. His attention was suddenly drawn to a photograph on one of the bookshelves. “Hey, here we are at Villanova’s May Ball,” Johnny said to Dana. “You know, that looks like the same dress I just brought you, only yellow.”

Dana laughed wistfully. “I still have that dress, and it still fits, but yellow? I don’t think so.” Dana paused. “Johnny, are you really glad to be free from Suzanne?” she asked.

“It was a bit of a shock to learn I was being used,” Johnny confessed, “but once I called the engagement off, I felt nothing but relief. Suzanne and I weren’t really suited for one another, but sometimes opposites attract, right? But I guess I needed the diversion more than anything else. Dad sensed it all along, and I know he was itching to say more than he did, but he knew I had to make my own decision in the long run.”

“Your dad is a wonderful man,” Dana said. “And he spoils us terribly!”

“I know,” Johnny said. “And to tell you the truth, I’m glad he’s moving to the city. Now that the wedding is off, I’m going to spend more time with him aside from work. I’ll even try to like the opera! Well, at least I’ll make an effort to join him now and then. I know that would have made mom happy. In fact, he’s at the opera tonight, so don’t bother calling.”

“You’re pretty special, Johnny, not to mention a great son.”

“What about you?” Johnny asked. “You’ve been looking a little stressed out lately.”

Dana sighed. “Does it show? I’m not surprised. It’s been an incredibly difficult week.”

“Dana, you know I’m always here for you. Is everything okay between you and Brett?”

“Yes. We have our issues like everyone else, but we’re working our way through them.”

“I’m glad,” Johnny said as they hugged. “You deserve to be happy. From what I’ve seen this week, Brett is one of the good guys with the white hat. He really helped me out of a jam.”

“Let’s go down and join the rest,” Dana suggested, not wishing to speak further about her marriage. “I don’t want Matthew and Janice unsupervised for too long.”

“She’s pretty strange,” Johnny said as Dana took his arm.

“Strange doesn’t even begin to describe it.”

“By the way,” Johnny said. “Nice little tree there.”

Dana could only smile at Johnny’s attentiveness. “Let’s go,” she said.

Dana and Johnny left the library.

• • •

When Dana reached the bottom of the stairs, she heard Nina’s unmistakable voice talking to Bea and Helen, who had just arrived. She was relating the size and location of the original five-foot Concolor fir.

“It’s okay, Nina,” Dana said. “We had such a good time. Finding the tree was just
part
of the day. What about our lunch at the historic inn? I’d say we had a few liberating conversations there and in the car.”